Harris to Develop Light Weight Communication Satellite System

The US Air Force awarded Harris Corporation a contract to study the development of a light weight (under 400 kilos) communications system that is capable of being deployed aboard satellites. The SunHearald.com website has the press release. The award is part of the Air Force’s Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORSO) programs. There was no value given for the award. Read more

Poland buys modern radios

Poland which has actively supported US operations in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as moving to more NATO standard equipment obviously needs to upgrade from its Soviet era equipment. According to this press release they bought $15 M worth of Harris Equipment tactical radios to support overseas operations. As Poland and the other former Warsaw Pact countries continue their integration further orders like this will take place.

Navy awards ship board satellite terminal contract

Harris Corp won a contract from the US Navy to build ship-board satellite communications terminals. See an article here. The contract is a one year base with four option years and could be worth over $70 M. Harris continues to add radio and communications equipment contracts.

Marines buy more radios

The US Navy awarded a contract to Harris Electronics to purchase tactical radios for the USMC. See an article here. The AN/PRC-117 radio order is worth about $118 M. Earlier the company had been awarded a $350 M contract for the radio. Harris has been eyed as an acquisition for a while, as reported here.

Various suitors view Harris for takeover

This article discusses the situation of Harris Corporation who makes radios for the US military and various civilian applications. There business has boomed over the last few years and their size and contracts have made them a target of the larger US and European defense contractors. Unfortunately the good performance of the company has driven the stock to an all time high making an acquisition very expensive. This is especially true of concerns that with the change in US administrations that there will be a falling off in the US Defense budget. Another concern is that Harris does work on several classified programs making it difficult for foreign companies, like EADS or BAE, to purchase them. Even if it wasn’t in such a time of Congress looking askance at these kinds of acquisitions, the security requirements might be too hard.

Research indicates that war in Iraq and Afghanistan good for the defense business

According to this article at Bloomberg.com the wars since 9/11 have been good to defense contractors. Two companies, L3 and Harris Corporation saw their stock price triple; or out perform the S&S six times. It can be expected that at least in the short term the wars and the defense budgets will continue to provide revenue for these companies. Unfortunately for them there will be that eventual time when there will be reductions in operations and in the budget as a whole as has happened so many times in the past in America.